The faculty union leader at the 14 state universities expressed disappointment over the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education's proposed state funding being cut by $15 million more than was anticipated.

The 18 percent cut emerged out of the final stages of state budget negotiations this week. This proposed $412.7 million appropriation represents a $90.6 million cut from the total state funding the system received this year. A House-passed version of the budget had proposed a $75 million cut.

System officials have declined comment about the funding situation at this time.

Steve Hicks, president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties representing nearly 7,000 faculty and coaches, said, "The 18 percent reduction ... means our students will likely pay higher tuition rates and at the same time, programs will be cut, class sizes will increase, and faculty and staff will be laid off.”

He said if the system decided to fill the 18 percent funding loss entirely with tuition dollars - which officials have said will not be the case - it would amount to an almost $600 a year increase to tuition. This year, the in-state undergraduate rate is $5,804.

“The state budget should not be balanced on the backs of Pennsylvania’s working families, especially at a time when the state has a $600 million surplus. Those additional dollars should have been used to achieve a budget that sustains all of the services working Pennsylvanians deserve.”

While the funding cut for the State System grew deeper in the final stretches of the budget, legislative and Gov. Tom Corbett's negotiators moved more money into the pots for Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln universities. Those schools will see a 19 percent reduction this year, which is down from the 25 percent cut that the House included in its budget.

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